Device for marking tubular articles



Jan. 22, 1957 l. SFGOTTSCHO ET AL 2,773,305

DEVICE FOR MARKING TUBULAR ARTICLES Filed April 3. 1953 aw N c f S 0 5Mw i am GT 5 5 n kmw m ATTORNEX DEVICE FOR MARKING TUBULAR ARTICLES lraS. Gottscho, Milburn, N. J., Malcolm Hirschey, Woodside, N. Y., andAndrew J. Alessi, Jr., Colonia, N. J., assignors to Adolph Gottscho,Inc., Hillside, N. 1., a corporation of New York Application April 3,1953, Serial No. 346,562

4 Claims. (Cl. 101329) The present invention relates to a device formarking tubular articles, and is particularly directed to a handmanipulated device for applying inked impressions to the surfaces oftubular articles.

Prior to the present invention hand manipulated de vices have beenprovided for marking elongated articles and included a marking orprinting roller rotatably mounted in a suitable frame having a handle tobe grasped by the operator. The frame is manually moved along theelongated article to be marked and the marking or printing roller hasbearer rims at the opposite sides for frictional contact with thearticle to produce rotation of the roller in response to the linearmovement of the frame along the article. However, when a tubular articleis marked by an existing device of the character described above, thebearer rims at the sides of the printing or marking roller do notcontact the surface of the article and rotation of the roller isproduced only by contact of the type carried between the bearer rimswith the surface of the tubular article. Since the type usually does notextend completely around the circumference of the printing or markingroller, the rotation of the roller, resulting from contact of the typewith the surface of the article is only intermittent, and there is someslipping and consequent blurring of the inked impression when the typefirst comes into contact with the article during each rotational cycleof the roller.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide adevice for marking tubular articles which includes a marking or printingroller and mechanism for continuously rotating the marking roller as thedevice is moved along the article being marked to avoid blurring of theimpression applied to the article.

Another object is to provide a device of the described character whereinthe mechanism which operates to effect rotation of the marking roller inresponse to movement of the device along the tubular article beingmarked also serves to guide the device on the article to achieveuniformity in the locations of successive markings ap plied to thetubular article.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing, and otherobjects, features and advantages of the invention appearing in thedetailed description of an illustrative embodiment given below, areaccomplished by providing a marking device which includes an elongatedframe having a handle extending from one end and a marking or printingroller rotatably mounted adjacent the other end of the frame forcarrying marking elements, such as type, on its periphery. A fountainroller carrying a supply of ink is rotatably mounted on the frame withits axis parallel to that of the marking roller and at a location spacedfrom the latter in the direction toward the handle. A transfer roller isrotatably mounted on the frame between the marking and fountain rollersand in rolling contact with both of the latter to transfer ink from thefountain roller to the surfaces of the type on the periphery of themarking roller. A guiding and driving roller is rotatably mounted on abracket extates atent tending from the frame for rotation about an axisparallel to the axes of the fountain, transfer and marking rollers. Theguiding and driving roller is formed with a shallow central groove ofV-shaped cross-section extending around the periphery thereof to receiveand frictionally contact the tubular article being marked, and withcylindrical bearer rims at the opposite sides of the V-shaped groovewhich effect frictional and rolling contact with corresponding bearerrims on the transfer roller. Finally, the marking roller is alsoprovided with bearer rims adjacent its opposite sides, and these bearerrims are in frictional and rolling contact with the bearer rims on thetransfer roller so that, as the marking device is moved along a tubulararticle to be marked with the guiding and driving roller riding on thearticle and the frame disposed to effect contact between the type-on theperiphery of the marking roller and the surface of the article, theguiding and driving roller causes the device to follow the article andproduces rotation of the transfer roller and marking roller.

In order that the present invention may be fully understood, anillustrative embodiment thereof will now be described in detail withreference to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, andwherein:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a marking device embodying thepresent invention and shown in marking relationship to a tubular articlewhich is illustrated in broken lines; i

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the marking device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail view on an enlarged scale showing therelationship between an element of the marking device of Figs. 1, 2 and3 and a tubular article during marking of the latter.

Referring to the drawing in detail, a marking device embodying thepresent invention is there generally identified by the reference numeral10. The marking device 10 includes an elongated frame 12 having alaterally directed portion 14 at one end, and a handle 16 is suitablysecured to the frame portion 14 and extends longitudinally from thelatter. The frame 12 is preferably formed with three spaced apart bosses18, 2t) and 22, and a marking or printing roller 24 is rotatably mountedon the boss 18 which is located at the end of the frame 12 remote fromthe handle 16. The structure which rotatably supports the marking roller24 may include a shaft 26 extending into the boss 18 at one end and heldin the latter by a set screw 28, with the roller 24 being freelyrotatable on the shaft 26. The marking roller 24 includes suitablestructure for holding marking elements or type 30 on the peripherythereof, and in the event that rubber type is employed, as is preferred,the holding structure may be formed in accordance with the disclosure ofthe application for United States Letters Patent of Ira S. Gottscho,Serial No. 219,867, filed April 7, 1951. Bearer rims 32 are provided onthe markingroller 24 at the opposite sides of the marking elements ortype 30 for a purpose hereinafter described in detail.

The marking device 1% also includes a fountain roller 34 having a porousor absorbent pad 36, for example, of felt and the like, and isconstructed in a conventional manner to contain a supply of ink, orother marking fluid, which seeps through and impregnates the pad 36. Thefountain roller 34 is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 for rotationabout an axis parallel to that of the marking roller 24 but spaced fromthe latter in'the direction toward the handle 16. The structurerotatably supporting the fountain roller 34 preferably includes a shaftor axle 38 on which the roller 34 is freely rotatable and having aknurled knob 4i at one end. The shaft 38,

at the end thereof remote from the knob 40, is formed with an eccentricextension 42 (Fig. 3') received in a bore of the boss 22, and a setscrew 44 (Fig. 2) is provided in the frame .12 toengage the extension 42and hold the shaft. 38 against rotation. Thus, the shaft 33 can beangularlyadjusted to vary the distance between the axes of rotation ofthe fountain roller 34 and. the marking roller 24..

.A transfer roller 46, preferably having at least the outer portionthereof formed of rubber, is rotatably mounted on the frame 12 betweenthe rollers 24 and 34 and in rolling contact with both of the latterrollers. The transfer roller 46, is preferably supported on a shaft 48extending parallel and similar to the shaft .38 described above. andheld now-rotatable in the frame 12 by a set screw 50 (Fig. .2} so thatthe shaft 48 may be angularly adjusted to vary the: distances betweenthe axis of the transfer roller-46.and theaxes. of the marking andfountain rollers .24 and..34, respectively. Thus, the adjustmentsprovided by the shafts supporting the fountain and transfer rollerspermit the. contact pressures between the several rollers to be varied.at will for controlling the thickness of the film of ink deposited onthe type 30 by the transfer roller 46. Further, the transfer roller 46is provided with. bearer rims 52 at its opposite sides, and these bearerrims are preferably separated from the remainder of the surface. of thetransfer roller by reduced diameter portions defining annular grooves 54(Fig. 2) .sothat the inkv deposited on. the central portion of thesurface of the transfer roller 46 by theinked pad 36 will not flow ontothe bearer rims 52. As seen in Fig. 2., the bearer rims 52-of thetransfer roller are dimensioned to effect frictional and rolling contactwith the bearer rims. 32 of the marking or printing roller. 'Thus, whenthe transfer roller 46 is rotated, in the manner hereinafter indicated,the marking roller 24 is rotationally driven by' the rolling contactbetween the bearer rims .32-and 5.2. Further, the contact between thecentral portion of the transfer roller 46 and the pad 36 of the fountainroller 34 causes. the latter to rotate in response to rotation of thetransfer roller.

In order to guide the marking device along a tubular article beingmarked and simultaneously effect rotation of the transfer roller 46,.the marking device em- .bodying the present invention includes a guidingand driving roller which is generallyidentified by the reference numeral56. The guiding and driving roller 56' has a shallow groove SSextendingcentrally around the periphery thereof and formed with a V-shapedcross-section. in which the conicala surfaces forming the groove aredisposed at a large obtuse. angle: relative to each other, as shown. inFigs. 3 and 4-. Further, the guiding and driving roller 56 hascylindrical bearer rims so at the opposite sides of the groove 58, withthe axial dimensions and spacing of the bearer rims 60 beingsubstantially the same as the axial dimensions and spacing of the rims52 on the transfer roller.

The guiding and driving roller 56 is rotatably supported from the frame12 in. a position below the latter and with the bearer rims 52 on thetransfer roller. The structure for rotatably supporting the guiding anddriving roller 56 preferably includes a shaft 62, on which the roller 56is freely rotatable, and a. bracket arm 64 secured at one end on aprojecting portion of the shaft extension 42 by a set screw 66- andhaving the shaft 62 secured in the other end of the bracket arm 64 byanother set screw 68 (Fig. 3). By loosening the set. screw 66, thebracket arm 64 may be angularly displaced on the shaft extension 42 forvarying the contact pressure between the bearer thus 60 of the guidingand driving roller and the bearer rims 52 of the transfer roller.

lit-employing the marking device 101for applying markings or inkedimpressions to. anxelongated; tubular. article '70 (Fig. 1.), thehandlc.16 is. grasped by the operator and the device is moved linearly alongthetubular: article with the guiding and driving roller 56 receiving thetubular article in its V-shaped groove 58 (Pig. 4) and rotating as itrolls along the latter. Further, the frame is inclined, as shown in Fig.1, so that the marking roller 24 is adjacent to the surface of thetubular article 70 and the type 30 applies successive inked impressionsor markings to the surface of the tubular article as the marking rolleris rotated by the successive engagement of the bearer rims 60, 52 and32. Since the roller 56 is continuously rotated in response to themovement of the device it). along the article being marked, the markingroller 24 is also continuously rotated and blurring of the inkedimpression, resulting from intermittent rotation of the marking rolleronly during the actual marking period, is avoided. By reason of the factthat the groove 58 of the guiding and driving roller is shallow and isdefined by conical surfaces which form relatively large obtuse angleswith respect to each other, the diameters of the lines of contact on theroller 56 will vary only very slightly for tubular articles of difierentdiameters and the peripheral speed at the surface of the bearer rimswill always be substantially equal to the actual speed of linearmovement of the device along the tubular article being marked so thatthe marking roller effects true rolling contact with the article beingmarked and any relative slipping, if it exists at all, is negligible.Further, while the described embodiment of the invention is primarilyintended for use in marking tubular articles, it is apparent that itmaybe employed for marking flat surfaces and, in that event, the bearerrims 60 of the guiding and driving roller will contact the fiat surfacebeing marked and the roller 56 will function in the manner .hereinbeforedescribed to drive the transfer roller 46 and, through the latter, themarking roller 24.

While an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to this precise embodiment and that various changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope orspirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

I. Ina portable device for marking a tubular article; the combination ofa frame movable bodily along an article to be marked, a marking rollerfor supporting type on the periphery thereof, means rotatably mountingsaid marking roller on said frame in a position exposing type on theperiphery of the roller to printing contact with the surface of atubular article to be marked, inking mechanism carried by said frame andincluding an ink transfer roller rotatably mounted on said frame inrolling contact with said marking roller, a combination guiding anddriving roller having a central, circumferential groove, and meanscarried by said frame rotatably supporting said guiding and drivingroller out of contact with said marking roller but with the surfaceportions of the said guiding and driving roller at the opposite sides ofsaid groove in rolling contact with said transfer roller and inaposition to effect rolling contact with a tubular article received. insaid groove as said frame is moved along the tubular article so thatsaid transfer roller transmits the rotation of said guiding and drivingroller to said marking roller while said guiding and driving rollerlaterally locates said frame and marking roller with respect to thetubular article in said groove.

2. In a device for marking a'tubular article; the combination accordingto claim 1, wherein said inking mechanism includes a. fountain rollerfor containing a supply of ink and having a peripherally arrangedabsorbent pad for distributing ink on said transfer roller, and meansrotatably supporting said fountain roller on said frame with saidabsorbent pad in rolling, contact with the central portion of saidtransfer. roller between the portions of the-latter'contacted by saidguiding. and driving roller so thatthe transfer roller receives ink fromsaid fountain roller and applies such ink to the type on said markingroller.

3. In a hand operated device for marking a tubular article; thecombination of a frame movable bodily along a tubular article to bemarked and having a handle portion at one end thereof, a marking rollerhaving bearer rims adjacent the opposite sides arranged to support typeon the periphery thereof between said bearer rims, means rotatablysupporting said marking roller on said frame remote from said handleportion in a position exposing type on the periphery of the roller toprinting contact with the surface of a tubular article to be marked,inking mechanism carried by said frame and including an ink transferroller rotatably mounted on said frame and having bearer rims adjacentits opposite sides in continuous rolling contact with said bearer rimsof the marking roller, said bearer rims of the transfer roller beingseparated from the remainder of the surface of the transfer roller byreduced diameter portions defining annular grooves in the latter, aguiding and driving roller having a central, circumferential groove andcylindrical surface portions at the opposite sides of said groovedefining bearer rims, and means carried by said frame rotatablysupporting said guiding and driving roller with said bearer rims of thelatter in continuous rolling contact with said bearer rims of thetransfer roller and in a position to effect rolling contact with atubular article received in said groove as said frame is moved along thetubular article so that said transfer roller transmits the rotation ofsaid guiding and driving roller to said marking roller, while saidguiding and driving roller simultaneously locates said frame laterallywith respect to the tubular article received in said central groovethereof.

4. In a hand operated, portable device for marking a tubular article;the combination of an elongated frame movable bodily along a tubulararticle to be marked and having a handle portion at one end, arelatively large diameter marking roller having bearer rims adjacent theopposite sides thereof and adapted to support type on the peripherythereof between said bearer rims, means rotatably mounting said markingroller on the other end of said frame to expose type on the periphery ofthe roller to marking contact with the surface of a tubular article tobe marked, a relatively small diameter ink transfer roller rotatablymounted on said frame next to said marking roller and having bearer rimsadjacent its opposite sides in continuous frictional rolling contactwith said bearer rims of the marking roller, said bearer rims of thetransfer roller being separated from the remainder of the surfacethereof by reduced diameter portions defining annular grooves, an inkfountain roller rotatably mounted on said frame and in continuousrolling contact with said transfer roller between said annular groovesof the latter along a line of contact diametrically opposed to the lineof contact of said transfer roller with said marking roller, a combinedguiding and driving roller of relatively small diameter having acentral, circumferential groove and cylindrical surface portions at theopposite sides of said central groove defining bearer rims, and meanscarried by said frame rotatably supporting said guiding and drivingroiler with said bearer rims of the guiding and driving roller incontinuous frictional rolling contact with said bearer rims of thetransfer roller and spaced from the bearer rims of said marking roller,said central groove of the guid-in and driving roller being of V-shapedcrosssection enclosing a large obtuse angle so that, when a tubulararticle is received in said central groove, the diameters of the linesof contact of the article with the surface of said groove aresubstantially equal to the diameters of said bearer rims on the guidingand driving roller and so that, as the frame is moved bodily along thetubular article to be marked, said marking roller is rotated by saidtransfer roller in response to rolling of said guiding and drivingroller along the article while the last mentioned roller laterallylocates said frame and marking roller with respect to the tubulararticle in said central groove.

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